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Aubameyang in Dortmund hat-trick debut

BERLIN, August 10 – New-signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit a hat-trick as Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund kicked off their Bundesliga season with an emphatic 4-0 win at Augsburg on Saturday.

“Aubameyang was used to great effect,” said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.

“I am not surprised about what he has to offer, only the fact that most of his shots went in.

“It’s a very good start from us.”

Aubameyang became the sixth player in Bundesliga history to hit three goals on his debut.

He opened his account by heading home a Marcel Schmelzer cross from the left wing to put Dortmund ahead after 24 minutes.

Aubameyang celebrated with his trademark forward somersault, then doubled Dortmund’s advantage when he slipped his marker and fired home across the goal on 66 minutes.

The Gabon star went on to convert a great pass from Robert Lewandowski on 79 minutes to wrap up his hat-trick before the Poland striker converted a penalty in the dying stages.

South Korea striker Heung-Min Son also scored on his first competitive appearance for Champions League side Bayer Leverkusen in their 3-1 win at home to Freiburg.

Germany striker Stefan Kiessling put the hosts ahead with 22 minutes gone, but Freiburg’s new signing Mike Hanke levelled just before the break.

Son restored Leverkusen’s lead just two minutes after the break when he fired home from close range after a final pass from Sidney Sam.

Germany midfielder Sam then converted Kiessling’s cross to seal the win with 52 minutes gone, while Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno protected his side’s lead when he saved a 67th-minute penalty from Jonathan Schmid.

Hertha Berlin marked their return to the top-flight after a year’s absence with a 6-1 rout of Eintracht Frankfurt.

Colombia striker Adrian Ramos and Tunisia forward Sami Allagui each scored twice in the hammering at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium while a first-half penalty from Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Alex Meier was all the guests could muster.

“The performance was sensational,” said Hertha coach Jos Luhukay.

“From the first minute, we made sure Frankfurt failed to find their rhythm.

“We have our first three points, it was a good start, but now we need to get back to business and improve on it.”

Hanover 96 enjoyed a 2-0 win over Wolfsburg, who finished with nine men after both midfielder Maximilian Arnold and Swiss defender Timm Klose were sent off.

Arnold was shown a straight red card with just 32 minutes gone for a bad tackle on Hanover’s Tunisia defender Karim Haggui, while Klose was sent off seven minutes after the break for his second yellow card.

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